[patentmike]

I have a flintlock that fires a .58 ball
I was wondering if it's possible to make a tracer round for it. It would be interesting to actually watch the ballistic nighmare at the range, especially in the wind.

[Jim Watson]

Never heered of sech a thang.

But if you get the light right, you can watch about any bullet fly. It is fun and useful to watch a .45-70 drop into the field of view of a spotting scope and kind of dive into a target at long range. But you can see pistol bullets with the naked eye; don't see why you couldn't find a musket ball with the sun behind you.

[Gatofeo]

Note quite sure what you'd use for the trace material in the base of the ball.
Besides, wouldn't the cloth patch prevent the main powder charge from reaching --- and igniting --- the trace material in the bottom of the ball.
When I was a kid, I tried making tracers for my .32 Winchester Special.
Drilled out a cavity in the base of a lead bullet. Took an old sparkler left over from Fourth of July. Crumbled the sparkler material off the wire, and wet it with water until it was pasty.
Then, I packed this paste into the base of the lead bullet.
Heh heh ... couldn't wait to see tracers fly from my Model 94 Winchester. :D
I allowed the trace to dry a couple of days, then loaded the lead bullets on top of 25.0 grains of IMR3031.
Pulled back the hammer and let her rip. Not a thing happened. :rolleyes:
My buddy and I couldn't see any kind of a trace. We surmised that the sparkler material was consumed in the barrel, it sure didn't show AFTER leaving the barrel.
The experiment was a failure and we never returned to the drawing board. I'm not sure what material is used in modern tracers.
I sure wouldn't want to fool around with making the stuff. Liable to be as dangerous, or more dangerous, as making black powder.
Besides, tracers are notorious for setting forests and grassland aflame. In many states and localities, it is illegal to fire them except at an approved military or police range --- for good reason.
Too many shooters have destroyed public and private lands by shooting tracers. Given the propensity for people to sue --- do you really want to take the risk by shooting them?

[patentmike]

Nice try with the sparklers. Nowadays kids play golf.
I don't know enough to fool around trying to develop a tracer on my own. I don't know if the stuff is ignited by the powder or if it burns due to friction with the air, or what. But I do have a safe place to shoot, and since I have some idea that the trajectory is about like a baseball, I thought it would be interesting to actually see it. I was hoping someone might know of a tried and true method or maybe even a commercially available tracer ball.

[carpettbaggerr]

You could get some pulled .50 BMG tracers and experiment -- patch might not work, but you could try it with sabots.

[49hudson]

Hornady used magnesiun metal to make it's vector ammo. So, find a chem. prof. or teacher who will sell, or give you a few cm of magnesium metal ribbon. Or order from some chem supply company. Drill hole in base of bullet bullet Cut a small length of mag. ribbon to fit use a drop of super glue to hold it in place,load and fire. Have fun!